Reflections on the first two weeks of the allegro training programme

Screen Shot 2020-06-18 at 11.08.09This article has been contributed by Selma Rayon, an Associate Medical Writer at Ashfield Healthcare Communications.

When I started seeking employment in the medical communications sector, I knew I was drawn to the medical writing path. The difficulty was that there were few entry-level positions that offered training, relative to the amount of applicants! Almost every position being advertised required some level of professional experience in medical writing, in which I was lacking – so when I was offered a place at the allegro programme, I knew this would be a fantastic opportunity to receive the necessary training, support and opportunities to develop the skills and mind- set for medical writing. Continue reading

In conversation with the account managers

In this webinar, we’re joined by account management staff from different agencies who talk about their own journeys into MedComms and their current roles, the day-to-day working life of account managers, training opportunities and career prospects. The panellists are Ben Church (Account Executive at Oxford PharmaGenesis), Alice Fantom (Account Executive at Envision Pharma Group)and Charlotte Lupton (Scientific Project Leader at Helios Medical Communications). They have all been profiled in the new issue of our annual careers guide, “The business of medical communications: a guide to getting started in account management“, published January 2020 (see FirstMedCommsJob.com). And we answer questions from the audience. It should be of interest to anyone who is looking for insights in to MedComms as a career and how to maximise their chances of gaining an entry level job.

Recorded 5 February 2020 as a MedComms Networking webinar. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv

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Six things I would tell myself on my first day after my first 3 months as a medical writer

tilly_shackleyTilly Shackley is an Associate Medical Writer with Real Science and has reflected on her first three months working as a medical writer in MedComms.

It is always challenging to know what to expect when entering into a new career, especially if it is in a niche field, such as medical communications. 3 months ago, I had my first day as an Associate Medical Writer at Real Science Communications, fresh from the labs after completing my MPhil in clinical medical research. Since then, I have been on a very steep learning curve and I have loved every minute of it, despite some challenges. I had a think about what advice I would give to myself on my first day and compiled six points that I wish somebody had told me. Continue reading

Inside the award-winning Allegro Programme

image1This article has been contributed by Deborah Porter, an Associate Medical Writer at Ashfield Healthcare Communications.

As someone who has spent their entire working life in the NHS, I thought I was a bit long‑in‑the‑tooth for a change of career. For years I had wanted to take a different path in my scientific journey, but never quite found the courage. Then, at the start of 2019, I decided I was going to be brave and go for it. I knew I wanted to stay in science and that I wanted to write, so it seemed like a good choice to become a medical writer. I began applying for Associate Medical Writer positions, and was lucky enough to catch the attention of the Allegro team at Ashfield Healthcare Communications. Continue reading

From grad school to en rules: Five things I’ve enjoyed about moving out of the lab and into MedComms

Alex BinksThis article has been contributed by Alex Binks, an Associate Medical Writer at Publicis Resolute.

After spending more than three years doing cancer research in a lab for my PhD, I knew that it was time for a career change. Although I loved the people, my research, and the ability to put “Dr” on every online form I could get my hands on, I felt myself gravitating more and more towards opportunities to explain science to wider audiences. As a result, I made the switch to MedComms and started work as an Associate Medical Writer at Publicis Resolute. Here are a few of my favourite things about the move from lab life to working in a MedComms agency. Continue reading

My first medcomms job

Emma PerryEmma Perry, a Senior Account Executive at Publicis Resolute, has written an acrostic, spelling out her enthusiasm for medical communications…

Many people ask me how I started working in medical communications, and the answer is quite straightforward.

Essentially, I really enjoyed the fast-paced environment and day-to-day variety in my previous PR agency, but I missed the science! Continue reading

In conversation with the medical writers

In this webinar, we’re joined by medical writers from four different agencies who talk about their own journeys into MedComms and their current roles, the day-to-day working life of medical writers, training opportunities and career prospects. The four writers are Simran Grewal (Medical Writer at Helios Medical Communications), Joe Pickering(Medical Writer at Mudskipper), Linda Townsend (Medical Writer at Ashfield Healthcare Communications) and Tim van Hartevelt (Associate Medical Writer at Oxford PharmaGenesis). And we answer questions from the audience.

It should be of interest to anyone who is looking for insights in to MedComms as a career and how to maximise their chances of gaining an entry level job.

Recorded 8 May 2019 as a FirstMedCommsJob webinar. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv Continue reading

Time flies when you’re having fun – as an Associate Medical Writer

Rhiannon Roberts Headshot 2019

Rhiannon Roberts has been an Associate Medical Writer with Real Science for 10 months now, and reflects on her experience of MedComms so far…

As I came towards the end of my PhD in Cell Biology, I started looking at the obvious (and what I thought at the time was the only) next step – a postdoc in the same field. I didn’t know much about MedComms, and I had definitely never considered a career in it.

During my search for a postdoc position I became worried about getting stuck in the same field/doing the same experiments forever. At this point a friend of mine who had already made the leap out of academia encouraged me to explore the world of MedComms. I haven’t looked back.

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